Apparatus for stapling sheets into pads



June 29, 1 965 D. J. DE FRANCIS ETAL APPARATUS FOR STAPLING SHEETS INTO PADS m M m M. t N F a .3 .mm 2 m .m fl 5.4mm

mu 5 m n D 3 6 w 2 l n d u 1 F m a m SQ A K on OA/ FT M mm Mu A0 w JLW June 29, 1965 D. J. DE FRANCIS ETAL 3,191,333

APPARATUS FOR STAPLING SHEETS INTO PADS Filed April 24. 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DOMINICK J. De FRANCIS JAMES M.FOOKS Stapler 32.

LOUIS T. STAATS, Sr. BY

Wmodaw fid ATTORNEY J1me 1965 D. J. DE. FRANCIS ETAL 3,191,838

' APPARATUS FOR STAPLING SHEETS INTO PADS Filed April 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a III i i s INVEN] ORS DOMINICK J. DeFRANCIS JAMES M. FOOKS LOU!S T. STAAT$,Sr.

BY 7M0) Kn:

ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice APPARATUS E012 STAPLING SHEETS INTQ PARS Dominick J. De Francis, 4113 Eastman Road, Northwond,

and James M. Foolss, 31 Paschal] Road, Shellhurne,

both of Wilmington, Bel, and Louis T. Staats, Sn, Rte.

1, Lincoln University, Pa.

Filed Apr. 24, 1963, 3:21. No. 275,239 6 Claims. (Cl. 227-7) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for stapling individual paper sheets into pads, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate quick, easy and highly convenient procedure whereby a set of juxtaposed sheets may be placed in proper edge alignment, stapled together at one or more places into the form of a pad, and stacked with other stapled pads for subsequent disposition, with the expenditure of the minimum amount of time, labor and expense.

This object is attained by the provision of a stapling apparatus which includes a trough-like holder having a loading station to receive a set of juxtaposed sheets, a stapling station with one or more stapling positions, conveyor means for delivering the juxtaposed sheets from the loading station to the stapling station against a stop in the latter whereby the sheets are properly edge-aligned prior to stapling, the stapling means themselves at the stapling station operable in one or more positions, and means for stacking the stapled pads after their discharge from the stapling station. All the components of the invention may be electrically or otherwise actuated, and an important feature resides in the provision of automatic means for sequentially controlling the operation of the various components so that the stapling and stacking procedures are automatically carried out after a set of individual sheets is manually inserted in the apparatus.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simple construction, eificient operation, and in its adapt ability to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may be come apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the stapling and stacking apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical cornponents of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view, similar to that shown in FIGURE 3, but illustrating a preferred embodiment of the stapling apparatus; and

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 83 in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the sheet stapling and stacking apparatus in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and embodies in its construction a horizontally elongated, trough-shaped holder 11 which includes a strip-like bottom wall 12 and a pair of relatively high, closely spaced side walls 13, 14, so that the troughshaped holder is relatively deep and thin and is open at the top and both ends thereof. One end portion or" the 3,191,838 Patented June 29, 1965 holder 11 constitutes a loading station indicated at 15, while its other end portion constitutes a stapling station indicated at 16. The upper edge portion of the holder side wall 14 is preferably curved outwardly as illustrated at 14, whereby to facilitate insertion of sheets to be stapled into the loading station 15, as will be hereinafter described, it being understood that such sheets are inserted into the loading station through the open top of the holder.

An endless conveyor belt 17 passes around a pair of suitable pulleys 18, 19 and the upper run 17' of the belt slides along the bottom wall 12 of the holder 11 in a direction from the loading station 15 to the stapling station 16, as exemplified by the arrow 20. The belt 17 is continuously driven by an electric motor 21 which has the pulley 18 secured to the armature 22 thereof, the speed of the motor and conveyor belt being controlled by a rheostat, or the like, 23. The rheostat also includes a suitable master switch 24 and a fuse 25 as shown in FIG- URE 6, and is connected to a suitable source of current supply as at 26. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the bottom portion of the holder 11 is widened as indicated at 12, so that the belt 17 underlies the lower edges of the side walls 13, 14, thus preventing any possibility of sheets being caught between the belt and the side Walls of the holder.

Provided adjacent the stapling station 16 are first and second stop pins 27, 28 which are projectable and retractable through apertures formed in the holder side wall 13, so that in their projected position they abut the side wall 14 and in their retracted position they, are flush with the side wall 13. The stop pins 27, 28 are retracted and projected by individual solenoids 29, 30, respectively, contained in a housing 31 on the outer surface of the side wall 13. The housing 31 also contains a pair of micro-switches 39, 40 which have depressible or retractable actuators 39', 4t) projecting through the side wall 13 into the holder at points immediately adjacent and forwardly of the respective stop pins 27, 28, as is best shown in FIGURE 2.

An electrically actuated stapler 32 of any suitable conventional construction is positioned outside the holder 11 and has a reciprocable staple applying member 33 which enters an opening 34 in the side wall 14 so as to apply a staple to a set of juxtaposed sheets in the stapling station 16 of the holder.

As shown in the wiring diagram of FIGURE 6, the solenoids 29, of the respective stop pins 27, 28 are energized through time-delay switches 35, 36, respectively.

These switches may be of any suitable, conventional construction, as for example, each switch may include contact means 37 which become closed upon heating of an adjacent resistor 38 to a predetermined degree of temperature. Current to the switch is delivered upon closing of the micro-switch 39, the latter closing in response to the presence of sheets in the stapling station 16 against the stop pin 27. The closing of the micro-switch 39 also delivers current to a time-delay .switch 41 for actuating the stapler 32, as hereinafter described. The micro-switch 40 includes a normally open contact side and a normally closed contact side 66, the latter being connected in serie with the time delay switch 41 and the stapler 32. The normally open side 65 of the micro-switch 40 delivers current to the time-delay switch 36 and to a further timedelay switch 42, when the micro-switch 40 is actuated by presence of sheets against the stop pin 28 and depression of the switch actuator 40' by such sheets. The time-delay switches 36, 42 are connected in parallel to the side 65 of the micro-switch 4t and the switch 42 is connected to the stapler 32 for actuating the same independently of the switch 41. The switches 41, 42 are similar to the time- =3 delay switches 35, 36, except that the time-delay interval of the switches 41, 42 is shorter than that of the switches 35, 36.

When the apparatus is to be used, a set of juxtaposed, individual sheets are inserted through the open top of the holder 11 into the loading station 15 so that the lower edges of the sheets come in contact with the conveyor belt 17, that is, the upper run 17 of the belt. The conveyor belt moves the set of sheets longitudinally through the holder 11 to the stapling station 16 where the leading side edges of the sheets come in contact with the first stop pin 27. As the conveyor belt continues to travel, urging of the sheets against the stop pin 27 causes the leading side edges of the sheets to be properly aligned. The presence of the sheets against the stop pin 27 closes the microswitch 39, and after a time-delay interval during which alignment of the sheet edges takes place, the time-delay switch 41 closes and actuates the stapler 32 which applies a staple to the bottom edge portion of the sheets at the first stapling position. The time-delay switch 35 then closes to energize the solenoid 29, which retracts the first stop pin 2'7 and permits the sheets to be conveyed by the belt 17 to the second stapling position against the stop pin 28. The presence of the sheets against the pin 28 closes open side 65 of the micro-switch 4% which, in turn, closes the time-delay switch 42 to again actuate the stapler 32 which applies a second staple to the bottom edge portion of the sheets at the second stapling position which is spaced transversely of the sheets from the first position. With the actuation of the micro-switch for closing the open side 65 thereof, the normally closed side 66 thereof will be simultaneously opened, thus breaking the circuit between the switch 41 and the stapler 32 to prevent energization of the latter by that switch. The time-delay switch 36 in turn closes to energize the solenoid 39 which retracts the stop pin 28 and permits the stapled pad of sheets to be discharged by the belt 17 from the discharge end of the holder 11 to a stacking device 45, hereinafter described.

The stacking device 48 has a receiving station 49 formed on a horizontally elongated bed 50. A side plate 50' extends from the bed 59 opposite the discharge end of the holder 11 and carries a micro-switch 51 which is closed by the pressure of a stapled pad against a switch actuating bar 52, when a stapled pad is discharged from the holder 11 into the receiving station 49. A reciprocable pressure plate 53 is provided at the station 49 to push the stapled pad against a back plate 54, the pressure plate 53 being slid toward the back plate 54 by the armature 55 of a solenoid 56 which becomes energized at the closing of the micro-switch 51. When the stapled pad is pushed by the pressure plate 53 against the back plate 54, the micro-switch 51 is opened and the solenoid armature 55 and pressure plate 53 are retracted to their initial position by a suitable spring (not shown).

It Will be apparent from the foregoing that as successive stapled pads are discharged from the holder 11 to the receiving station 49, they will become stacked against the back plate 54 so that they may be conveniently removed from the apparatus in the form of a neat row or stack, for further disposition. Since the length of the row or stack of stapled pads continually increases as the pads are discharged from the holder 11, the back plate 54 is slidably mounted on the bed 50, as for example, by being equipped with 9. depending lug 57 which projects downwardly through a slot 57 in the bed 51 and is slidable along a rod or shaft 58 mounted at the underside of the bed. However, free sliding movement of the back plate is restricted by a friction brake in the form of a detent 59 which is rockably mounted in a recess 60 formed in the lug 57 as shown in FIGURE 5, the arrangement being such that the detent 59 frictionally engages the rod or shaft 58 and permits only a slow, gradual sliding of the back plate 54 away from the pressure plate 53 under the accumulation of stapled pads against the back plate.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a modified arrangement of he stapling apparatus which is preferable to the stapling apparatus shown in FIGURES 1-4, although for most part it is substantially the same as far as the combination of stop pins, switches, et cetera, is concerned. However, in the preferred embodiment of FEGURES 7 and 8 the holder 11 is provided intermediate the ends of its bottom wall 12 with a recess 7%, and two longitudinally aligned but spaced endless belts 71, 72 are utilized in place of the single belt 27. The first belt 71 passes around the pulley 18 and a pulley 73 on a shaft 74, while the second belt 7 2 passes around a pulley 75 on a shaft 76 and the pulley 19. The two shafts 74, 76 are operatively connected together by a belt drive 77, so that the two belts 71, 72 are both driven from the motor armature 22.

The space or recess 79 between the two belts '71, '72 permits the use of a conventional electric stapler 32' using preformed staples, while the stapler 32 in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4 using the single belt 17 would require a stapler of a special design to be employed. The stapler 32 is suitably attached to the holder 11 at a point between the two belts 71, 72, that is, in or below the recess 70, and if desired or necessary, a bridging plate 73 may be provided at the bottom of the holder to span the recess 76! and facilitate smooth passage of sheets from the belt 71 to the belt 72.

In both embodiments of the invention the stop pins 2'7, 28 may be made adjustable as to their location longitudinally in the holder 11, to facilitate stapling of sheets at various desired points.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for stapling sheets into pads, the combination of a holder having a loading station and a stapling station therein, said holder having a pair of horizontally spaced upright guide walls open at their upper ends to receive a set of juxtapositioned sheets in substantially vertical position therebetween, endless conveyor means provided at the bottom of said holder for supporting the bottom edges of said set of juxtaposed sheets in substantial alignment, and adapted to deliver said set of juxtapositioned sheets inserted in said loading station to said stapling station, movable stop means disposed adjacent the stapling station in said holder and normally positioned across the path of travel of said set of sheets, stop actuator means for withdrawing said stop means from across the path of travel of said set of sheets, said endless conveyor being adapted to frictionally engage the bottom edges of the individual sheets in said set supported thereon and to force the individual sheets in said set against said normally positioned stop means while said endless conveyor continues in motion thereby aligning the leading edges of said set of sheets against said stop means, stapler means for stapling aligned sheets at said stapling station into a pad, time-delay responsive to presence of sheets in said stapling station for actuating said stapler, second time-delay means responsive to presence of sheets in said stapling station for actuating said stop actuator means to withdraw the stop and permit the stapler pad to be discharged from said holder by said conveyor means, and means for continuously driving the conveyor means.

2. In an apparatus for stapling sheets into pads, the combination of a trough-shaped holder having a loading station and a stapling station therein, said trough-shaped holder having a pair of horizontally spaced upright guide walls open at their upper ends and a narrow bottom wall connecting said guide walls, a projectable and retractable stop disposed adjacent the stapling station in said holder, solenoid means for retracting and projecting said stop, endless conveyor means provided over said bottom wall of said holder adapted to support the bottom edge of individual sheets of a set of juxtaposed sheets inserted in said loading station and to deliver said set of juxtaposed sheets to said stapling station against said stop when the latter is projected thereby aligning the leading edges of the sheets at the stop, an electrically actuated stapler having a reciprocable staple applying member for stapling aligned sheets at said stapling station into a pad, timedelay switch means responsive to presence of sheets in said stapling station for actuating said stapler, second time-delay switch means responsive to presence of sheets in said stapling station for energizing said solenoid means whereby to retract said stop and permit the stapled pad to be discharged from said holder by said conveyor means, and means for continuously driving the conveyor means.

3. In an apparatus for stapling sheets into pads, the combination of a trough-shaped holder having a loading station and a stapling station with first and second stapling positions, said trough-shaped holder having a pair of horizontally spaced upright guide walls open at their upper ends and a narrow bottom wall connecting said guide walls, a first projectable and retractable stop disposed adjacent the first position ofsaid stapling station, first solenoid means for retracting and projecting said first stop, endless conveyor means provided over said bottom wall of said holder and adapted to support the bottom edge of individual sheets of a set of juxtaposed sheets inserted in said loading station and to deliver said set of juxtaposed sheets to said stapling station against said first stop when the latter is projected thereby aligning the leading edges of the sheets at the first stop, an electrically actuated stapler having a reciprocable staple applying member for stapling aligned sheets at the first stapling position into a pad, time-delay switch means responsive to presence of sheets at the first stapling position for actuating said stapler, means for continuously driving said conveyor means, a second projectable and retractable stop disposed adjacent the second position of said stapling station, time-delay switch means responsive to presence of sheets at the first stapling position for energizing said first solenoid means whereby to retract said first stop and permit the pad of sheets to be delivered by said conveyor means from the first stapling position to the second stapling position against said second stop, second solenoid means for retracting and projecting said second stop, timedelay means responsive to presence of the pad at the second stapling position for actuating said stapler, and time-delay means responsive to presence of the pad at the second station for energizing said second solenoid means whereby to retract said second stop and permit the stapled pad to be discharged from said holder by said conveyor.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second stops are projectable and retractable through apertures provided in one of the side Walls of said holder.

5. In an apparatus for stapling sheets into pads, the combination of a holder having a loading station and a stapling station, said holder having a pair of horizontally spaced upright guide walls open at their upper ends to receive a set of juxtaposed sheets in substantially vertical position therein, conveyor means provided at the bottom of said holder for supporting and delivering a set of juxtaposed sheets inserted in said loading station to said stapling station, retractable stop means disposed adjacent the stapling station in the path of travel of the sheets, said conveyor means being operative to force individual sheets in the set against said stop means whereby to align leading edges of the sheets, stapler means for stapling aligned sheets at the stapling station into a pad, and means for retracting said stop means whereby the stapled pad may be discharged from said holder by said conveyor means.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 together with time-delay means responsive to presence of sheets in said stapling station for actuating said stapler means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,356 11/54 Hoiferth 17 XR 2,698,694 1/55 Schwartz et al. 214-7 2,977,599 4/61 Schlesinger 1-106 2,994,881 8/61 Kaufman 1106 3,090,504 5/63 Britten et al. 2147 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, IR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR STAPLING SHEETS INTO PADS, THE COMBINATION OF A HOLDER HAVING A LOADING STATION AND A STAPLING STATION THEREIN, SAID HOLDER HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED UPRIGHT GUIDE WALLS OPEN AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO RECEIVE A SET OF JUXTAPOSITIONED SHEETS IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION THEREBETWEEN, ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS PROVIDED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOLDER FOR SUPPORTING THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SET OF JUXTAPOSED SHEETS IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT, AND ADAPTED TO DELIVER SAID SET OF JUXTAPOSITIONED SHEETS INSERTED IN SAID LOADING STATION TO SAID STAPLING STATION, MOVABLE STOP MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE STAPLING STATION IN SAID HOLDER AND NORMALLY POSITIONED ACROSS THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID SET OF SHEETS, STOP ACTUATOR MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SAID STOP MEANS FROM ACROSS THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID SET OF SHEETS, SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR BEING ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE BOTTOM EDGES OF THE INDIVIDUAL SHEETS IN SAID SET SUPPORTED THEREON AND TO FORCE THE INDIVIDUAL SHEETS IN SAID SET AGAINST SAID NORMALLY POSITIONED STOP MEANS WHILE SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR CONTINUES IN MOTION THEREBY ALIGNING THE LEADING EDGES OF SAID SET OF SHEETS AGAINST SAID STOP MEANS, STAPLER MEANS FOR STAPLING ALIGNED SHEETS AT SAID STAPLING STATION INTO A PAD, TIME-DELAY RESPONSIVE TO PRESENCE OF SHEETS IN SAID STAPLING STATION FOR ACTUATING SAID STAPLER, SECOND TIME-DELAY MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PRESENCE OF SHEETS IN SAID STAPLING STATION FOR ACTUATING SAID STOP ACTUATOR MEANS TO WITHDRAW THE STOP AND PERMIT THE STAPLER PAD TO BE DISCHARGED FROM SAID HOLDER BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, AND MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY DRIVING THE CONVEYOR MEANS. 